2 weeks old, and mom can't sleep!!

[sugahbee]

Help! I had my first child 2 weeks ago, I am co-sleeping (I have an arm's reach but usually just pull him into bed with me) and find that his nighttime noises make it next to impossible for me to sleep! My mother just left, she was taking him from 11pm-1am so I could fall asleep, then bring him to me when he woke up hungry. I could always fall back asleep after nursing. Now, when we lay down for the night, he's in very active sleep, squeaking, grunting, moving, etc. and every little sound jolts me awake. I'm up most of the night after that. I am not a good daytime napper, so I am beyond sleep-deprived and know it can lead to PP depression. I'm trying not to freak out but am overly tired and can't think of a solution. Any suggestions??

[Satori]

I know its no consolation now but you will get used to the little noises soon Congrats on the new little one! I miss those early days...

[KimL]

i'm pretty sure that 90% of moms with two week old babies don't sleep! my advice, toughen up. learn how to nap during the day when she naps. you'll get use to the noise.

[handsandfeet]

Maybe try a white noise machine to have some background noise so the little squeaks aren't so noticable?

[Jayray]

I second the white noise machine/CD or maybe a sleep hypnosis CD? We used one after DS was born because I had issues with insomnia (not because of baby noises, though). Have you thought about side-carring a crib? I also had a friend who wore ear plugs. It blocks out the little noises, but you can still hear when the babe really needs you. I have never tried this, though.

[intrepidmother]

I wore an ear plug... just one ear! I was worried about not hearing enough, but the ear plug made a world of difference. We also invested in a white noise machine. Good luck! I'm sure you'll find something that works!

[maptome]

I used the silicone earplugs. The box says they aren't for sleeping, but pfft. They work well. I couldn't even hear the little noises.

Sleep deprivation? Welcome to motherhood. You'll learn to live with it and it won't be a big deal. Really.

Congratulations on your new baby!

[MeepyCat]

We moved our son into a crib in the next room and got a voice-activated baby monitor. We moved him back into bed with me later on. I must say though that this didn't end the sleep dep, it just changed it. I went from sleeping very lightly all night to short spans of deep sleep punctuated by trips down the hall. Within a month, I was tired enough to sleep through the little noises.

CAn your DP possibly take a shift to get you at least some uninterrupted sleep?

If it helps any, as his nose grows, he will become a quieter sleeper.

[Kiwiontheloose]

I had exactly the same problem with my newborn. We even moved her hammock out of our room for a few weeks (she slept in a hammock for first 2 months then we started co-sleeping) but I found I slept even worse when she wasn't in the room as I knew I'd be jolted awake by her cries, so I lay there all stressed out waiting for her to wake up.

What helped us was a cd of white noise - gentle womb sounds, I could focus on that instead of the grunts etc. I would also put DH "on duty" for part of the night (still do this actually - at 12mths) so after nursing at say 2pm if I notice hubby is awake I will roll bubs gently over so she's closer to him (so I can get comfy) and say "your turn hun". He will deal with any wakings as best he can - ie pat/shh/cuddle etc and if it doesn't work she comes back to me. He often cant' get her back to sleep but at least I know in my mind I don't have to respond to her waking straight away and it allows me to "switch off" for a bit. He usually takes about a 2-3hr stint every couple of nights.

I should also add that you really do get used to it. its at the point now where Im sure I couldn't sleep if I couldn't her her!
good luck and congrats on your new baby!

[MelMorgan]

Sound Machine!

Try a sound machine. I recommend the SleepMate 980A. We tried a few different white noise machines and this one is definitely the best. It worked great for us. Bought ours at http://www.sleepwellbaby.com. Their prices are good and they also offer free shipping. Very helpful customer support staff as well.

[Tique]

Originally Posted by KimL

i'm pretty sure that 90% of moms with two week old babies don't sleep! my advice, toughen up. learn how to nap during the day when she naps. you'll get use to the noise.

I'm surprised that a mom could be so un-empathetic to a new mom. Yes being tiered and getting basically no sleep is part of being a new mother...but she certainly shouldn't just toughen up. My advise...ask for help if you can. don't be shy. We are ment to be tried, but we aren't ment to do it alone...the more suport and help you have the easier it will be to handle the lack of sleep. If you don't have family/friends around, maybe join a mom and baby group. Also the other advise about getting a noise machine or even an air purifier may help.

be kind to yourself...it will get better

[dianakaye]

I love all the ideas already- white noise, earplugs, moving the baby away for a bit.

My little guy (now 18 months) was so noisy that I couldn't fall asleep in the same room. We tried lots of different things and what he ended up needing was being touching me. If he was in contact with me he would fall in to deeper sleep and not grunt so much.

Sleep with a baby is rough- so be gentle on yourself. Try out everything until you find what works (I recommend NCSS, sleepless in america, and sears sleep book). Even then with all the growth and developments little ones have you might have to rearrange things and try out new things periodically.

For now I recommend catching up on your sleep whenever you can and maybe taking something like Calms Forte to help you fall asleep at the beginning of the night. For me I think that what kept me up more than just the grunts and baby noises was wondering if those little noises meant he needed something.

Good luck!

[HeliMom]

I am a heavy sleeper so I have no advice but just wanted to say that it's worth it to work on the daytime napping. My granddad used to say even lying there can help. I use a sleep hypnosis cd when I have insomnia and it really helps. s to you momma!

[buckeye_bebe]

Does your bebe fall asleep and stay asleep at the breast? I hear ya though. My first...oy, couldn't sleep with her! I could not believe a newborn could be that noisy! But this one... he falls asleep on the breast, so he doesn't make any noise. Just a minimal amount of noise of the sheets rustling when he is rooting around. And I am a light sleeper! But this is working out great!

I sincerely hope you get things worked out in a way that allows you quality sleep. Maybe not all at once at night, maybe good sleep throughout the day and night. It takes some adaptation sometimes.

Good luck though, I'm rootin' for ya.

[EzzysMom]

I was totally like this too, the new mom adrenaline just kept me awake. If my babe nursed, I'd get the relaxing hormones and could sleep. I had to time my bedtimes in the beginning to go to bed whenever her last reasonable 'evening' nursing happened, between 8 and 10. Eventually the adrenaline wore off and I could sleep better. This is a crazy time and the sleep deprivation takes a long while to get used to and learn to adapt, but you will. Even if you think you can't possibly go on, you can. One foot in front of the other, and one day it will get better.

[Nazsmum]

A friend during the day? Someone to let you get some rest during the day? Even if you can not sleep just getting into bed and closing your eyes can do a world of good. (it did for me)

I know that it is hard right now but it will get better.

[sugahbee]

Thanks so much, everyone!! I feel SO much better. I just wanted to post an update for other new mamas with the same issues. Yes, touching me makes a huge difference, as does swaddling. He falls asleep after nursing and hardly makes a peep until he's hungry. I'm also much more accustomed to his noises and can fall asleep next to him even if he's grunting! You really do get used to it. I also used some white noise for him last night to calm him down (and it worked like a charm, he was out like a light after screaming his head off!) and it helped me sleep almost instantaneously, too. All very good suggestions, and I so appreciate the encouragement and empathy